New entrance at Temple Meads completed - but will remain closed for two years

The new Eastern Entrance at Bristol Temple Meads will be open in 2026. Front row (L-R): Peter Denton, CEO of Homes England; Cllr Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council; Stephen Peacock, CEO of West of England Combined Authority; Daniel Round, Industry Programme Director at Network Rail; Neil Hook, Director South at Homes England; Rachel Musson, Strategic Director Resources at West of England Combined Authority; Karen Mercer, CEO of BTQ LLP.
-Credit: (Image: Network Rail)


Images of the all-new entrance at Bristol Temple Meads have been unveiled by Network Rail. The new entrance, named the Eastern Entrance, will be open to the public in 2026, around the same time as the £500m new University of Bristol campus.

The completed entrance, which will be unused for two years whilst ongoing developments at the new Enterprise Campus are ongoing, will be used by an estimated 2.5m passengers by 2030 according to Network Rail. The entrance first began construction in 2023 and was estimated to cost £25m.

The frame of the structure stands at six metres high and 20 metres wide. The entrance will connect from the campus building to the pedestrian subway which runs beneath the platforms.

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The entrance has been completely built and will be left vacant until the Enterprise Campus is built and opened in September 2026.
The entrance has been completely built and will be left vacant until the Enterprise Campus is built and opened in September 2026. -Credit:Network Rail

It is one of three new entrances that are scheduled to be built at the historic railway station, which was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. A number of works are scheduled over the following 14 years to refurbish the station, which include a new roof.

The campus building next to the entrance also forms part of the Temple Quarter regeneration efforts, which will see new student accommodation, flats and other facilities built. The University of Bristol's campus will be a base for 4,600 students and 650 staff when completed.

The entrance cost around £25 million to build.
The entrance cost around £25 million to build. -Credit:Network Rail

The Enterprise Campus is around a third of the way through development and is on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office. The 38,000 sqm academic building will also be open to the public with community spaces and a café.

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